Who are you and where are you from?
I’m Chris Costa, a 70 year old trapped in a 23 year olds body
originally from a small town on the coast of victoria but have called Melbourne home for the past 2 and a half years.
What drew you (pun intended) to graphic art was it just a transition from paper to computer?
I ran hardcore/punk/metal shows from 13-18 and a big part of that was the poster art.
So my brother taught me the basics on a stolen copy of photoshop and it kind of just happened and from that,
i got introduced to illustration many years later.
Your work is easy to pick among the crowd did you set out to do a distinctive style straight off the bat or is it just evolution?
Although I wish I could say it was all planned out none of it was intentional.
I’m borderline legally blind so when I design something I’m designing it so that even I can read it or see what it is when it’s 25-50 meters away.
Because of my vision I’ve always been attracted to the bolder lines in life haha
What’s the office playlist consist of?
Pup, The Beastie Boys and Trapped Under Ice are the main culprits at the moment with a sprinkling of Simon and Garfunkel and Warren Zevon.
Who would be a dream client for you?
I’ve always wanted to take over an old school diner and re-brand it. Every Logo, Every bottle, the uniforms, All the album artwork in the Jukebox and even the table
numbers. I’m not sure who might have the power to make that happen but that would be the dream.
If you had to describe your style in 3 words?
BOLD-SIMPLICITY-SYMMETRICAL
Tell us a little about Badlands when did it start and ethos behind it?
Badlands is something I’ve had in the back of my mind for the good part of the last two years after a solo trip to hiking the Rocky Mountains in Canada but officially launched in February of this year.
The ethos behind Badlands is to look at what takes our breath away and translate that into a wearable garment and do that in a socially and humane way. For me, the natural beauty of the world and love give me that feeling but Badlands is an exploration into how other people interpret that as well which means it’s ever evolving and changing as the brand grows with the people that surround it.
Where do you want to see Badlands in 2 years?
In two years I’d want Badlands to be collaborating with more artists, putting out clothes on a more regular basis and stocking outside of Australia.
I try not to look too far in the future and kind of let things take their natural course. If you’re putting hard work and hours into it, the following will eventually come.
Your up and coming collection is titled “Peace Keepers” can you give us an insight into the name and creative direction your taking with it?
I really loved the hippie movement of the 60’s and 70’s and wanted to bring that vibe and that ethos into a 21st-century streetwear style with some darker undertones.
A lot of floral illustration and designs centered around the way different people interpret “peace”. All of that plus the usual Nature/adventurer feel that Badlands is somewhat known for.
How does someone become a wild one?
Haha Being a “Wild One” is a reference to Wild in the scents of nature, being within nature and enjoying the natural beauty of the world
And Wild in the scents of anarchy, energy and being a bit out there.
What’s two things we need more of and two things we need less of in modern society?
Less Ego – More Action – Less hatred – More vegan pizza.
Any last words?
We come in peace.
